Letters to the Editor — January 17, 2013

fosters.com

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Posted Jan. 17, 2013 at 3:15 AM

Posted Jan. 17, 2013 at 3:15 AM

To the Editor:

Thank you so much for the article about my fundraising project in Cameroon. I’m delighted to report that just 24 hours after its publication, I received word that my project had been fully funded! I think your story must have made the difference and given the final push. Again, thank you so much.

Joyce el Kouarti

Puckabrush

Cameroon

To the Editor:

On Oct. 16, 2011, while watching TV news coverage of President Obama at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Dedication in Washington, D.C., I saw the spirit of Osama bin Laden standing directly behind President Obama. I also saw a vision of red blood pouring down the newly dedicated statue of Dr. King.

I believe this was a sign that President Obama, who would not be in office were it not for the nonviolent leadership of Dr. King, had betrayed the legacy Dr. King by ordering the killing of Osama bin Laden. I believe that Dr. King, a follower of Jesus Christ, never condoned the killing of enemies.

Alex J. Boros

Rochester

To the Editor:

Just about a year ago, a certain Bishop Blake wrote a letter to the editor in another paper, in which he commented on how anti-Christian the world’s mood was becoming, and frankly confessed how dimly he saw Christianity’s prospects.

That was, as stated, just over a year ago. And while I do share his dim outlook, I do not share his despair.

Allow me to quote…

“When I’m finished history will not be sure they (the Christians) ever existed” — Nero (Peter Ustinov) to Petronians in the movie “Quo Vadis?” about the first general persecution of Christians in 67 A.D.

“We must exterminate this pernicious foreign creed (Christianity), which so threatens our way of life” — Shogun Tokugawa 1600 A.D.

“In 20 years’ time God will be remembered only by the very old and the Bible shall be a worm-eaten old tome gathering dust in some forgotten corner of the library, its location known only to the oldest librarians” — Voltaire, early XVIII century.

“God is dead!” — Nietzsche, late XIX century.

“As we have overthrown the king, so shall we overthrow the church” — Revolutionary leader in the opening scene of the movie “The Miracle of our Lady of Fatima,” — early XX century.

“The triumph of our revolution means the end of all religion everywhere, perhaps in our lifetime, certainly before the end of the century” — Lenin, 1917.

“The Pope? Hah! How many divisions does HE have?” — Stalin, 1945.

“I’m going to run God right out of the USA!” Madalyn O’Hair, early 60s.

“Christianity will wither and die. Right now, we’re more popular than Jesus Christ!” — Beatle John Lennon, mid 60s.

“Irrelevancy and Decline of Religion in the Modern World” — title of a book (1 of 3 ol’ Fidel told a French reporter he was going to write “when he retired,” (1986).

What was that about “Famous Last Words?” The fact is, history’s been nothing more than a fulfillment (and over fulfillment!) of Jesus’ promises (Mt. 15:18 & 28:20). Each and every one of the individuals named has wound up echoing the Apostate’s dying snarl: “Galilean, thou hast conquered!” And even when they do win, they’ll still lose (read the “script!”).

There’s every reason to be pessimistic. There’s no reason to be despondent (John 16:33 and John 5:4).

Which raises the question: What kind of denomination elevates, not just to minister, but to bishop(!) a man so profoundly ignorant, not just of history (a fault he shares with the overwhelming majority of Americans), but of Scripture, which is, after all, supposed to be his specialty? And what kind of help can his flock expect (Luke 22:32), when he himself has so little faith he cannot even help himself?

Pray for him. He needs it. And pray for his flock. They need it even more!

BJ Figueredo

Gonic

To the Editor:

As a lifelong firearms enthusiast, who has owned everything from an M1 carbine to a matchlock arquebus, I find I must draw the line at so-called assault rifles. Sure, they’re lots of fun to shoot, but they’re ugly, too powerful, and not very useful for any practical purpose. If you need something with a 30-round clip to bring down a deer, you’re a really bad shot. When pressed “black gun” fans often say they need such weapons for home defense. Against what? The Mongol hoardes? Others, more darkly, intimate they’re for when the government “gets out of control.” Great attitude. That really worked for David Koresh, didn’t it?

The Southern Poverty Law Center reports the existence of 1,200 hate and militia groups in this country — the kind of folk you don’t want armed with supersoakers, much less AR15s and AK47s. Face it, we might have to enact strict regulations on the ownership of such weapons. After all, one can legally own a machine gun in this country, but there’s a lot of rigamarole and paperwork involved to do so. Assault rifles may have to be treated the same way. Even people like Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly think this might be a good idea. It’d be a real aggravation for responsible gun owners (the vast majority), but it may have to come to that.

This would hardly constitute a “gun grab.” No Turner Diaries style apocalypse, no black helicopters, no fascist take over, just sensible laws.

It’s at least worth considering.

Steve Hartford

Rochester

Farmington Inaugural Ball

To The Editor:

For those people who cannot get to Washington, DC for the Inaugural celebrations for President Obama’s second term, the Farmington Democratic Committee is sponsoring an Inaugural Ball to be held on Sunday, January 20, 2013 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Old Town Hall, also known as the Operation Center at 531 Main St. in Farmington, New Hampshire.

Tickets will be $10 at the door. Hor d’oeuvres and sparkling ciders will be served. There will also be a raffle with the first prize being a Romantic Overnight Stay at the Governor’s Inn in Rochester, New Hampshire, including breakfast.

Music will be provided by Pat O’Brien and there will also be a disc jockey. People are invited to come and help us celebrate.

Emmanuel Krasner,

Chairman of the Farmington Democratic Committee

To the Editor:

How much do you value your local fire department? You never know just how much until you need them!

That’s why I’m asking you to vote yes to fund the new Milton Firehouse on March 12. Building a new fire station will provide crucial space for training, administration, equipment and supplies. It will help ensure that the Milton fire department has a well-trained, experienced and well-equipped crew, ready to help quickly with any emergency.

If you’re like me, you take for granted that Milton’s on-call firefighters will be there when you need them. You and I count on their willingness to put their lives on the line, if required. Let’s help keep them as safe as possible by giving them the preparation and equipment they need in a station that has adequate training facilities, good storage space and reasonable working conditions.

Funding the firehouse is more than paying for a building; it’s about supporting all the Milton firefighters and keeping our whole community safe.

Virginia Long

Milton

To the Editor:

The three Swift Boating Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte are at it again. This same triumvirate just completed a political hatchet job (see upcoming special election for Massachusetts’ Senate Seat currently held by John Kerry) on the uniquely qualified UN Ambassador Susan Rice; forcing her to withdraw herself from consideration to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. Now, they, along with a group of Neoconservatives, are attempting to block the appointment of former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel from the Secretary of Defense position being vacated by Leon Panetta.

This would be a travesty as Senator Hagel is immensely qualified to serve as President Obama’s Secretary of Defense. Having been an Army enlisted ground pounder and twice wounded (still carries around shrapnel in his chest) during the Vietnam War, Sergeant Hagel knows, as well as anyone, the true gravity and cost of war. While in the U.S. Senate, he was a distinguished member of the Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees. He also demonstrated courage and conviction by defying his own party on its ill-advised Iraq policy, which is what most likely earned him the ire of the said Senators.

President Obama recognizes that Hagel, who possesses sound judgment and independence, would be a tremendous asset to his national defense team and the perfect person to assist in bringing the costly 11 year old Afghanistan War to a successful conclusion, as promised. Hagel, with longtime involvement in veterans’ affairs, is deeply committed to America’s service members, military families and veterans. The President expressed his support of Hagel stating, “Maybe most importantly, Chuck knows that war is not an abstraction. He understands that sending young Americans to fight and bleed in the dirt and mud, that’s something we only do when it’s absolutely necessary. “

The 2012 elections are long over and now it’s time for the GOP to knock off the obstructionism and allow the Executive Branch to perform the people’s business. Chuck Hagel needs to be swiftly confirmed by the Senate — not Swift Boated — as the first enlisted soldier as Secretary of Defense.